Introduction

Have you ever wondered why a water strider can walk on water? Or how detergent can clean your dishes? If you look around you carefully, you can find dozens of similarly interesting phenomena that are all linked to the surface tension of water. In this science activity, you will make a little toy raft that is actually powered by surface tension, and use your vessel to investigate how surface tension works!

Credits

Teisha Rowland, PhD, Science Buddies

This activity is not appropriate for use as a science fair project. Good science fair projects have a stronger focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data. To find a science fair project that is just right for you, browse our library of over 1,200 Science Fair Project Ideas or use the Topic Selection Wizard to get a personalized project recommendation.

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You can find this page online at: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/how-surface-tension-works?class=AQXU_jt_6brjBOJDioPpcNVJWdpgFg2J-zidOQwuowKCbvoEFSJbZXumDC5a-1kov4-WTQEKeiBmJNi513ylIpNiuw0YWgGJiepvHNBjGD0G0Q

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